Keltbray and Concrete Repairs brought a little glamour to their respective sectors as they led the way at Building’s Specialist Contractor awards last Tuesday

Specialist contractors enjoyed a big night out at London’s Park Lane Hilton last Tuesday, at Building’s fifth annual awards for excellence in the sector. Concrete Repairs came out on top, collecting both the training award and the Best of the Best prize. Demolition contractor Keltbray also picked up two gongs, including Specialists’ Personality of the Year for Brendan Kerr, the group managing director.

The winners

Foundation/Groundwork Specialist of the Year: Cementation Foundations The judges said: “Skanska’s groundworks subsidiary is pioneering the use of geothermal energy piles in the UK, and to date has installed CFS Energy Piles which will cut carbon dioxide emissions by 750 tonnes a year.”

Structural Specialist of the Year: SH StructuresThe judges said: “Complex steel structures are meat and drink to SH Structures, as clients found to their great satisfaction on some striking projects, including Heathrow Terminal 5 and the Royal Air Force Museum at Cosford in Shropshire.”

M&E Specialist of the Year: Crown House Technologies The judges said: “Crown House Technologies sets the pace in the increasingly complex and challenging M&E world. It is a founding member of the UK Green Building Council and health and safety chiefs have awarded it the order of distinction for the past three years.”

Cladding Specialist of the Year: Prater The judges said: “Its innovative cladding systems have won Prater the confidence of clients such as Bovis Lend Lease and Stanhope. Its pre-assembled solutions have allowed other trades more time to perform their work.“Sponsor: Euroclad

Fit-out Specialist of the Year: Ibex Interiors The judges said: “Ibex enhanced its credentials this year by achieving ISO 14001 and BREEAM assessor status. And that level of professionalism paid off in its £2.3m Caxton House project for the Department of Work and Pensions.”Sponsor: Glidden

Roofing Specialist of the Year: Rock AsphalteThe judges said: “Landmark schemes are a speciality for this leader in manufacturing and installing waterproofing schemes. Among its projects this year have been the Emirates Stadium and Liverpool’s Paradise Street.”

Essential Site Services Specialist of the Year: KeltbrayThe judges said: “Demolition professionalism has been taken to new heights by Keltbray this year, and its reward was selection to prepare the way for four towers currently going up in London.”

Specialists’ Personality of the Year: Brendan Kerr, Keltbray The judges said: “Clients point to Brendan’s infectious personality, his vigour and the ‘can do’ attitude he brings to projects. Others say his skill is that he simply enjoys people and what he calls ’the craic’ .” .

Training Award and Best of the Best: Concrete Repairs The judges said: “To counter the industry's skill shortages, Concrete Repairs has established its own in-house training ‘school of excellence’ . It invests, on average, £650 each year in every employee.” Training award sponsor: ConstructionSkills; Best of Best sponsor: Kier